BUILDING work which began in an Abergele park earlier this month was widely condemned last week by councillors from across the town.

Members of Abergele Town Council, speaking at a meeting held last Thursday said construction work taking place near the football grounds in Pentre Mawr Park is not only an eyesore but could also be dangerous to sports players using nearby pitches.

“We want residents who might be concerned by what’s going on to know that we are aware of what’s going on” said Pentre Mawr county councillor Sam Rowlands.

“I’m hoping we’ll able to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.”

Pentre Mawr councillor John Mortimer added:

“This work is not only unauthorised but is also dangerous. If someone playing on the pitch were to fall onto the new concrete, they could hit their head and injure themselves.”

It is understood that the work was approved by Abergele Football Club, who lease the pitches in the park, but not the nearby ground where a section of concrete foundation and several posts have been installed.

Councillors and residents have also said that during the time of the work, believed to have taken place between February 27 and 28, locks to the park gates were damaged, although it has not been confirmed whether this was linked to the construction.

Members of the town council said at the meeting that they are to write to Conwy County Council’s Leisure Services, who control the park, to discuss whether construction should be allowed to go ahead.

Eric Campbell, Manager for Abergele Rovers, declined to comment on the nature of the project until he had met with representatives of the county council on March 20, but did confirm that the club had plans to upgrade its facilities in order to allow it to compete in the Welsh Alliance league.

He also confirmed that work on the project had been halted until after the meeting.

A spokesperson for Conwy County Council said it was aware of the football club’s ambitions to upgrade the pitch and facilities in the park, and that the meeting has been arranged with members of the council to discuss the proposals.

However, it did add that any work undertaken would have to be subject to the usual planning permissions necessary for projects of its nature.

The construction works are not in any way related to ongoing work to see speed bumps, floodlights and new gating installed elsewhere in the park, which is a separate project.